It seems that Chatwin is narrating his own life, from the false starts, unsatisfying jobs, unfinished studies and unpublished writing to the precipitate moves, the eruptions of boredom and the infatuations with people, with places, with ideas. These letters burst with affectionate salutations, explosions of rage, sudden enthusiasms

This collection should be cherished not least because it is Chatwin's last

The editors brief and beautifully pointed comments in the footnotes provide some of the most enjoyable moments in this book

A masterpiece of sympathetic and diligent editing, absolutely fascinating and larded with acerbic comments from Shakespeare's joint editor, Elizabeth Chatwin

Every drop of Chatwin is worth it. The same exquisite observations found in his novels and the penetrating ideas found in his essays infuse even his most casual letters

As Under the Sun poignantly reveals, when he died Chatwin's extravagant writing gifts were gelling into a wider and deeper understanding of the human condition and the world we inhabit

Fascinating... the letters radiate kindness, generosity, insecurity and consistency

Invaluable

These letters burst with affectionate salutations, explosions of rage and sudden enthusiasms

The travel writer's wanderlust generated bestselling and Booker-nominated work, but his collected letters unveil the man behind the books

These letters are as close to the real McCoy as we're going to get - not least because he sloughs off the confident, self-possessed persona exhibited in his books and allows his vulnerabilities to show

'Dark as soot and bright as sparks,' The Night Circus still holds me willingly captive in a world of almost unbearable beauty. This is a love story on a grand scale: it creates, it destroys, it ultimately transcends. Take a bow, Erin Morgenstern. This is one of the best books I have ever read

The Night Circus is a gorgeously imagined fable poised in the high latitudes of Hans Christian Anderson and Oscar Wilde, with a few degrees toward Hesse's Steppenwolf for dangerous spice. The tale is masterfully written and invites allegorical interpretations even as its leisurely but persistent suspense gives it compelling charm. An enchanting read

This 19th-Century Anglo-American costume drama about two star-crossed lovers in a fantastical travelling circus is as dreamlike and magical as its setting

I'm not often lost for words, but I'm struggling to find the words to describe just how good this book is and how it made me feel, so I'll just say this: if you are only able to read one book for the rest of your life, make sure it is The Night Circus. You won't regret it

This must be one of the most beautiful novels of the year. Its die-cut cover, black-edged pages and intricate endpapers attest to the publisher's hopes that Erin Morgenstern's magically minded debut will secure the vast audience left bereft by the conclusion of the Harry Potter chronicles

The narrative is deft and satisfying, and the author's talent is intriguing

The story is compelling, and the gorgeous descriptions of the circus make you wish it was real

Lush, evocative, dreamlike...a magical, coming-of-age story

Dark and dreamy; a captivating love story

An extraordinary blend of dream and nightmare will take you on a magical journey

Enchanting, and affecting... I was compelled by the world itself - by its saturated colours and textures, its unexpected smells and tastes. It is a surprisingly rare thing in fiction - a strikingly beautiful world, in spite of its darkness

Morgenstern's writing, when it comes to magical creations, is delectable, addictive stuff...[it] leaves a tang of smoky caramel in the air as it ends, and an undeniable urge to go to the circus

A beguiling, gripping read... Morgenstern has crafted a thrilling and transporting tale

Extraordinary, atmospheric, a mind-spinning story

This week's hot read...I loved this book and didn't want it to end... Totally absorbing and beautifully descriptive, it created a whole world I couldn't help but get lost in, especially the slow-burning love story between the two main characters, who are both sorcerers

Enter the magical world of a mysterious travelling circus

The new One Day... Erin Morgenstern is the talk of the literary world and we hear The Night Circus will be the next big thing. Set in a mysterious, monochrome circus the book centres on two young magicians who begin to fall in love

Fantasy blends seamlessly with reality and I ended up having to use words like this: enchanting

Erin Morgenstern's astonishingly vivid imagination made the unbelievable believable...in other words I fell for it all... There is illusion and delusion, shape-shifting, manipulation and deceit, misdirection and more often than not all is definitely not what it seems as the story unfolds, and if you are as unforgiving as I am of entire books written in the present tense, in this case, as you read you will see why it is necessary. The present tense embraces shifting time whether past or future, it is actually always the present ..see I can hardly make sense of it myself, you need to read it to see how well it works. And yes, I was enchanted, and I did run away with the circus as young Bailey does, and as I closed the book of course I came back to reality gently wondering whether I was supposed to be thinking, how long before Bailey meets Mr Barnum

An enchanting tale of forbidden love, set against the spectacular backdrop of the circus

A recommendation by Audrey Niffenegger...should ensure this amazing debut novel gets the attention it deserves

Fantasy lovers, here comes Harry Potter for grown-ups... The story is already en-route to Hollywoood so snap up the original tale first

It is rich, evocative, compelling, enchanting, whimsical, breath-taking, playful, imaginative, marvellous, and quite simply beautiful in every single way. I love it

An epic fantasy novel, which will leave you craving a sequel. Morgenstern creates an entire world of mystery and wonder… With complex and intriguing characters, an interwoven and completely satisfying storyline, and unrivalled imagination bursting through the seams, The Night Circus ticks all the right boxes, and guarantees to keep you captivated and mesmerised from the first page to the last.

This is a marvellous book. Playful and intensely imaginative, Erin Morgenstern has created the circus I have always longed for

Enchanting ... I was compelled by the world itself - by its saturated colours and textures, its unexpected smells and tastes. It is - a surprisingly rare thing in fiction - a strikingly beautiful world, in spite of its darkness

A riveting debut. The Night Circus pulls you into a world as dark as it is dazzling, fully-realized but still something out of a dream. You will not want to leave it

Dark and dreamy; a captivating love story

Lushly imagined, extremely charming and very, very readable

One of the most beautiful novels of the year

Lush, evocative, dreamlike... a magical, coming-of-age story

Pure pleasure... Erin Morgenstern is a gifted, classic storyteller, a tale-teller, a spinner of the charmed and mesmerizing - I had many other things I was supposed to be doing, but the book kept drawing me back in and I tore through it. You can be certain this riveting debut will create a group of rêveurs all its own.

The narrative is deft and satisfying, and the author's talent is intriguing

This week's hot read... I loved this book and didn't want it to end... Totally absorbing and beautifully descriptive, it created a whole world I couldn't help but get lost it, especially the slow-burning love story between the two main characters, who are both sorcerers

The Night Circus made me happy. Playful and intensely imaginative, Erin Morgenstern has created the circus I have always longed for and she has populated it with dueling love-struck magicians, precocious kittens, hyper-elegant displays of beauty and complicated clocks. This is a marvelous book

I'm not often lost for words, but I'm struggling to find the words to describe just how good this book is and how it made me feel, so I'll just say this: if you are only able to read one book for the rest of your life, make sure it is The Night Circus. You won't regret it

A phantasmagorical world inhabited by compelling characters. Grown-up fans of Harry Potter, take note

Morgenstern paints precise, evocative and visually lush scenes within the tents of her fictional circus… a genuine pleasure to read. Like any successful illusion, it could be carefully unraveled but surely it should simply be enjoyed

For all its whimsy, the author’s lush, evocative, dreamlike prose is not as sugar-coated as it sounds. Her writing is delectable, addictive stuff, and this is an accomplished, refreshingly unusual debut

Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents, Le Cirque des Reves is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazement

A phantasmagorical fairytale for grown-ups

Absolutely spellbinding! A wonderful mix of history and magic that will keep you captivated. We love this magical debut!

Enough here to satisfy fans of JK Rowling or even Suzanna Clarke

For ultimate holiday escapism delve into Morgenstern’s tale… Expect some unfamiliar acts and a good old love story in there too

Enchanting and whimsical historical fantasy, this is a delight for the imagination with its breathtaking imagery, intriguing plot, and beautiful writing